TY - BOOK
T1 - Efficient interfacing of light and surface plasmon polaritons for quantum optics applications
AU - Eran, Kot
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The research of light and matter interactions is the most fascinating and powerful tool in advancing our understanding of both atomic and light physics. From the pioneering work of Niels Bohr in devising a model for the atom to recent research in manipulation of single atoms, light matter interaction are the window to the underlying quantum world. It is no surprise then that there has always been push to find more, and gain better control over systems in which this interaction can be studied. In the past two decades, this end was further motivated as applications were envisioned to coherent control of matter. These include applications such asefficient photon collection, single-photon switching and transistors, and long-range optical coupling of quantum bits for quantum communications.However, generating and controlling strong coherent interaction between otherwise very weakly interacting light and quantum emitters proves a difficult task. Current days solutions range from cavities, atomic ensembles, photonic band gaps structures, ion traps and optical latices are all being improved and studied but none has yet to emerge as superior. Recently, another proposal for such a strong coupling system has been put forward. By exploiting the strong confinement of light in a surface plasmon mode, a cavity-free, broadband tool can be designed to engineer the light-emitter interaction in the vicinity of metallic nano-structures. These surface plasmons, hybrid waves of light and electronic oscillations propagating on the surface of metals have been shown to be useful in coupling to quantum dots, nanodiamond NV-centers defects and other quantum emitters. However, being lossy these modes too need to be efficiently coupled out to photons in order to facilitate experimental control of the system. This have proved to be the Achilles heel of this application. In this thesis we study the interaction of surface plasmons on nanometallic structures and light. We suggest two configurations in which efficient coupling to the surface plasmon modes can be achieved on the nanoscale, allowing to transfer single photons from one mode to the other. The first, applicable to plasmonic guides, exploits the phenomena of adiabatic following to transfer the plasmonic excitation to an adjacent photonic waveguide by slowly tapering the plasmonic guide into and then out of resonance with the photonic guide. For this end we develop a general perturbative description for guides of arbitrary cross section, and go on to apply it to slab guides showing up to 90% coupling efficiencies for realistic experimental parameters. The second coupling configuration suggested is a plasmonic coupling lens, constructed around the emitter in a proximity to a metallic interface. Concentric grating rings then couple light propagating normal to the surface to a inward propagating plasmons, showing coupling efficiencies of 70% and enhancement of the emitters decay rate by up to 45 times that of the isolated emitter’s decayrate. Finally, we explore a nonclassicality criterion for the state of a continuous variable, local system. This is done by inferring the breakdown of classical models from quadrature measurements, expressed as the lack of iv a proper distribution function of the underlying generalized coordinates. This provides a useful tool in characterizing new candidate systems for quantum applications and by its simplicity, also furthers the understanding of the quantum-classical transition.
AB - The research of light and matter interactions is the most fascinating and powerful tool in advancing our understanding of both atomic and light physics. From the pioneering work of Niels Bohr in devising a model for the atom to recent research in manipulation of single atoms, light matter interaction are the window to the underlying quantum world. It is no surprise then that there has always been push to find more, and gain better control over systems in which this interaction can be studied. In the past two decades, this end was further motivated as applications were envisioned to coherent control of matter. These include applications such asefficient photon collection, single-photon switching and transistors, and long-range optical coupling of quantum bits for quantum communications.However, generating and controlling strong coherent interaction between otherwise very weakly interacting light and quantum emitters proves a difficult task. Current days solutions range from cavities, atomic ensembles, photonic band gaps structures, ion traps and optical latices are all being improved and studied but none has yet to emerge as superior. Recently, another proposal for such a strong coupling system has been put forward. By exploiting the strong confinement of light in a surface plasmon mode, a cavity-free, broadband tool can be designed to engineer the light-emitter interaction in the vicinity of metallic nano-structures. These surface plasmons, hybrid waves of light and electronic oscillations propagating on the surface of metals have been shown to be useful in coupling to quantum dots, nanodiamond NV-centers defects and other quantum emitters. However, being lossy these modes too need to be efficiently coupled out to photons in order to facilitate experimental control of the system. This have proved to be the Achilles heel of this application. In this thesis we study the interaction of surface plasmons on nanometallic structures and light. We suggest two configurations in which efficient coupling to the surface plasmon modes can be achieved on the nanoscale, allowing to transfer single photons from one mode to the other. The first, applicable to plasmonic guides, exploits the phenomena of adiabatic following to transfer the plasmonic excitation to an adjacent photonic waveguide by slowly tapering the plasmonic guide into and then out of resonance with the photonic guide. For this end we develop a general perturbative description for guides of arbitrary cross section, and go on to apply it to slab guides showing up to 90% coupling efficiencies for realistic experimental parameters. The second coupling configuration suggested is a plasmonic coupling lens, constructed around the emitter in a proximity to a metallic interface. Concentric grating rings then couple light propagating normal to the surface to a inward propagating plasmons, showing coupling efficiencies of 70% and enhancement of the emitters decay rate by up to 45 times that of the isolated emitter’s decayrate. Finally, we explore a nonclassicality criterion for the state of a continuous variable, local system. This is done by inferring the breakdown of classical models from quadrature measurements, expressed as the lack of iv a proper distribution function of the underlying generalized coordinates. This provides a useful tool in characterizing new candidate systems for quantum applications and by its simplicity, also furthers the understanding of the quantum-classical transition.
UR - https://rex.kb.dk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=KGL01009088496&context=L&vid=NUI&search_scope=KGL&isFrbr=true&tab=default_tab&lang=da_DK
M3 - Ph.D. thesis
BT - Efficient interfacing of light and surface plasmon polaritons for quantum optics applications
PB - The Niels Bohr Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
ER -